Iconica Names New President

Change is inevitable, and at Iconica, we embrace it as an opportunity for growth and evolution. We’re excited to share a significant milestone in our journey. Jim Pienkta, CEO and President, has decided to transition away from his role as President while maintaining leadership as CEO, and we are thrilled to announce the promotion of Mike Walters, former Vice President, to the position of President.

Having joined as an entry-level project manager 12 years ago, Mike’s journey is a testament to his dedication, growth, and the values that define Iconica’s culture. This transition reflects our commitment to fostering talent from within. In his new role as President, Mike will take the reins of day-to-day operations, while Jim, as CEO, will continue to guide our overarching strategy and long-term goals.

We express our gratitude to Jim for his outstanding leadership as President of Iconica and look forward to his continued guidance as CEO. Please join us in congratulating Mike on his well-deserved promotion to President. We eagerly anticipate the innovation and success that will unfold under his leadership.

About Iconica: 

Located in Madison, Wisconsin, Iconica provides full-service architecture, engineering, and general contracting. Offering fully integrated solutions or individual services, Iconica has refined a process that eliminates uncertainty and streamlines commercial building projects. Whether tasked with a small remodel or a large complex commercial building, Iconica closely collaborates with clients, subcontractors, and vendors to provide results that support project goals. We apply every lesson learned on the job to the next, impacting each client’s business, One Revolution at a Time. https://iconicacreates.com/

Kraus-Anderson Companies’ years-long succession plan promotes Peter Diessner to Chief Executive Officer

Bruce Engelsma remains Chairman

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 7, 2024) – Peter Diessner has been named chief executive officer of Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc., the holding company for KA’s 127-year-old family of companies.  Diessner has been chief operating officer of KA Companies since 2023.  He succeeds Bruce Engelsma who has been CEO since 1997.  Engelsma remains chairman of KA Companies and will continue to serve on various committees within the enterprise, which includes KA Construction, KA Realty & Development, KA Insurance and KA Financial Services Group. 

Diessner’s appointment to the top leadership role is a seamless transition and natural progression of many years of intentional and thoughtful planning for the family-owned company. 

“This third generation of leadership comes at a time of continuing prosperity at Kraus-Anderson,” said Bruce Engelsma, KA Companies’ visionary leader, who joined KA in 1975 and has served as chairman and CEO for 27 years.   Engelsma’s father, Lloyd, led the company from 1937 until his death in 1997. 

Each of KA’s family of companies works independently and together to achieve KA Companies’ continued growth and prosperity. 

“You can see the results all around us,” said Engelsma. “New and growing regional offices and areas of expertise; a robust properties portfolio; redevelopment and new development activities; longstanding clients and tenants along with exciting new opportunities — these are among the many synergies emerging as our people work together to build KA’s brand and the communities we serve.”

In his new role, Diessner will join and lead the executive leadership team at KA Construction, one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers, as it continues to strategically grow and expand.  The company has operations in nine cities, including the opening of new regional offices this year in Fargo, N.D. and Phoenix, Ariz.  Managing $1.4 billion in construction, its vast portfolio in numerous building sectors comprises education, healthcare, commercial, hospitality, offices, retail, housing and mixed-use developments, as well as buildouts and special projects.

Diessner will serve as CEO and continue to serve as president of KA Realty & Development.  KA Development provides comprehensive development services for KA’s real estate portfolio and third- party owners.  In the past five years KA Development has completed over 700,000 square feet of development and multi-family housing, including 1,275 apartment units.

KA Realty owns and manages a portfolio of 5.73 million square feet of more than 70 commercial real estate properties throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. 

As CEO, Diessner will also oversee KA Insurance, the fifth largest privately held insurance brokerage in Minnesota and a national leader in risk management services; and KA Financial Services Group, which manages over $300 million in financing related to KA Realty’s portfolio of properties and provides treasury management for all the KA entities.

Diessner, an attorney, joined KA Financial Services Group in May 2018 as director and was named vice president in February 2019.  In April 2019, he became president of KA Realty & Development to provide high level oversight of the company’s existing and prospective portfolio of real estate, as well as financial analysis for KA interests and partners. He was named COO of KA Companies in March of 2023.  Prior to joining KA, Diessner was a Twin Cities real estate attorney first at Fredrikson & Byron and then at Speeter & Johnson.  He focused his practice on transactions and disputes involving real estate.

Diessner received his J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law and his B.A. in Financial Economics from Gustavus Adolphus College.  He is on the board of the Children’s Theatre Company.

“Kraus-Anderson maintains an extraordinarily high level of collaboration and innovation throughout our companies and teams,” said Diessner.  “I’m excited about new geographic horizons as we continue to grow and the opportunities for our people to engage in personal and professional development.”

About Kraus-Anderson Companies

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate development enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies and services, including facilities assessment, K-12 pre-referendum planning, strategic facility planning, sustainability and insurance operations. Kraus-Anderson, an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Fargo and Bismarck, N.D., Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

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Casey Liakos Joins The QTI Group as Vice President of Executive and Professional Search

Madison, WI – March 06, 2024 (The QTI Group) – The QTI Group (QTI), the Madison-based staffing and human resources consulting firm with expertise in industrial, administrative, professional, and executive recruitment as well as compensation consulting, announced the appointment of Casey Liakos to Vice President of Executive and Professional Search.

In his role, Liakos will oversee QTI’s Executive, Professional, and Board of Directors Search Team as it continues to expand and partner with companies across Wisconsin and the Midwest to recruit for high-level executive roles. Liakos is excited to join a team that can broadly address talent and people needs, with staffing, recruiting, and consulting solutions that bring value to clients.

Liakos brings 14 years of staffing and talent searching experience to QTI, with just over six years experience as president of a local talent acquisition firm, where Liakos was named the 2020 InBusiness Small Business Executive of the Year. A Wisconsin native and an avid Badgers, Brewers, and Packers fan, Liakos’ industry expertise and local connection are the perfect combination to drive QTI forward.

“I see The QTI Group as a cornerstone in the Madison community. I have a passion for connecting with people and connecting people to one another, which has driven my entire career. I believe The QTI Group is the best place for me to continue to grow in the industry and support my community,” says Liakos.

QTI’s new leadership is the result of thoughtful preparation as the company positions itself for growth and success in 2024.

About The QTI Group

Founded in 1957 as a small staffing agency, The QTI Group has grown to be a full-service, privately owned human resources firm. QTI’s key service areas include staffing, professional, technical, and executive search, and HR consulting. With a QTI has a people first focus and a commitment to helping business reach their full potential through people, The QTI Group is headquartered in Madison, WI and has four branch locations in Wisconsin.

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Turczyn and Miller Elected to M3 Insurance Board of Directors

Melissa Turczyn, managing partner of the Madison office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and Kevin Miller, director of education & government practice and partner at M3 Insurance, were recently elected to the M3 Insurance Board of Directors. This appointment was approved on February 21, 2024, at the annual M3 Shareholder meeting.

Turczyn’s legal career at Michael Best spans over 16 years. She works closely with entrepreneurs and has a strong track record of helping to organize, finance, and build early-stage and emerging growth companies. Her broad experience includes aiding startups in industries as varied as IT, medical devices, clean tech, and mobile applications. Turczyn also represents venture capital funds, angel funds, and other strategic investors. Turczyn is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the American Bar Association. Her recent recognitions include being listed in Best Lawyers®, Women in the Law in Madison, WI for Corporate Law, and Best Lawyers in America© for Corporate Law. Turczyn sits on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Wisconsin Technology Council.

Miller has been with M3 for nearly 15 years and is a subject matter expert, strategist, and thought leader in the education & government sector. He has broad experience placing property and casualty insurance products and counseling existing clients about risk management strategies and insurance planning. Miller is an active community member and involved in various organizations including the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO), Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association, and the M3 Foundation.

We are thrilled to welcome Melissa and Kevin to M3’s Board of Directors, knowing their depth of experience and strategic thinking will help us influence our industry, be a broker of choice for our clients, and be a place people want to build their career.
— Mike Victorson
CEO | M3 Insurance

Turczyn and Miller fill seats recently vacated by Marsha Lindsay and Amy Olson. Lindsay is the founder and CEO of Lindsay Foresight & Strategem. Olson is a senior client executive, director of financial institution practice, and partner at M3 Insurance. “A special thank you goes to Marsha and Amy for their years of loyal and expert counsel,” said Mike Victorson, CEO. “During their tenure we’ve experienced exponential growth and investment back into the organization.”

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About M3

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.

David Pellitteri Promoted to President at Pellitteri Waste Systems

FMI:
Joleen Engeseth
Marketing Coordinator
608-257-6232 ext. 346
Joleene@pellitteri.com

David Pellitteri Promoted to President at Pellitteri Waste Systems

MADISON, WIS., Feb. 26, 2024 – Pellitteri Waste Systems, Inc., a leading waste and recycling collection and processing company, is pleased to announce the promotion of David Pellitteri to the position of President.   

Formerly serving as Vice President of Finance & Development, David’s elevation to President reflects his longstanding dedication and significant contributions to the company.

Following in the footsteps of his Grandfather Tony and Father Tom, David Pellitteri is part of the third generation to lead the Pellitteri team. He started working at the family business as a driver in the small container division while in high school and then worked with the sales team while attending college. After completing his studies at Bethel University in 2000, he returned to Madison and was tasked with developing a new confidential data destruction division. Throughout his career, David has served in several other capacities at Pellitteri Waste Systems, including leading the sales team, overseeing operations, further developing the recycling division, and most recently overseeing finance and development. Over the years, David has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the waste and recycling industry.

David has been recognized for his commitment to environmental stewardship. Appointed by the Governor, he currently serves on the Council on Recycling, playing a crucial role in shaping recycling policies and initiatives at the state level. He has also been appointed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary to serve on the Waste and Materials Management Study Group, contributing to advancing sustainable waste management practices.

David is currently the Chair of the Wisconsin chapter of the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) and is Executive Vice Chair for the Services Board of Governors. His involvement in these leadership roles underscores his dedication to advancing and advocating best practices within the waste and recycling industry.

“I am blessed to have my father as my mentor and truly enjoy having my brother, sister and father as my business partners. Together we work to take care of our customers and staff while following our core values and fulfilling our company mission,” David Pellitteri said. “Our employees are the driving force behind the success of our company, providing the high level of service our customers have come to rely upon. I am honored to lead and support the Pellitteri team.”

David’s father, Tom Pellitteri, maintains co-ownership of Pellitteri Waste Systems, sharing an equal partnership with his children David, Tim, and Danielle. Tom will retain the position of Chairman of the Board, providing valuable guidance and continuity to the company’s leadership.

The promotion of David Pellitteri to President marks an exciting chapter for Pellitteri Waste Systems. His vision, experience, and commitment to sustainability position him as a driving force in leading the company forward. The entire team at Pellitteri Waste Systems congratulates David on this well-deserved promotion and looks forward to continued success under his leadership.

About Pellitteri Waste Systems

Pellitteri Waste Systems provides waste and recycling collection, specialty recycling services, on-site confidential data destruction, and state-of-the-art single-stream recycling processing to commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout Southern Wisconsin. It is a family-owned company based in Madison with a proud tradition of service and community involvement. Pellitteri services more than 76,000 households. The company sorted over 163 million pounds of mixed recycling at their local Material Recovery Facility, recycled over 28 million pounds of specialty recyclables from manufacturers and industrial customers, hauled over 11 million pounds of construction materials to be recycled, and shredded and recycled over 3 million pounds of confidential data in 2023 . For more information, visit www.pellitteri.com.